← The 2006 CIA World Factbook, Volume 2
Gwp (part 9)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People Liberia
Population:
3,042,004 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
4.91% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
44.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
23.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
27.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: at least 238,500 Liberian refugees are in surrounding
countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their
ability to return (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 155.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 171.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 139.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.65 years
male: 37.99 years
female: 41.35 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,
Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo,
and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from
the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
Government Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 47 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 16 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 6 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005
(next to be held NA 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF elected president; percent
of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (UP) 59.6%, George
WEAH (CDC) 40.4%
note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the
Liberian Government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of
former president, Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,
Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National
Transitional Government on 14 October 2003; free elections were held
11 October 2005, with a runoff election between the two leading
candidates on 8 November 2005
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats -
number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; members
elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in
2014); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next to
be held NA 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CDC 15, LP 9, UP 8, COTOL 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15
note: the current six-year term for junior senators - those who
received the second most votes in the election - is mandated by the
Liberian constitution to stagger Senate elections and ensure
continuity of government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress for
Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP
[H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. MINOR chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 723-0437 FAX: (202) 723-0436 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: 226-148
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview:
Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and
timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable
future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly
endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate
favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter
of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local
manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The
departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in
August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional
Government, and the arrival of a UN mission have helped defuse the
political crisis, but have done little to encourage economic
development. Wealthy international donors, who are ready to assist
reconstruction efforts, are withholding funding until Liberia's
National Assembly signs onto a Governance and Economic Management
Action Plan (GEMAP). The Plan was created in October 2005 by the
International Contact Group for Liberia to help ensure transparent
revenue collection and allocation - something that was lacking under
the Transitional Government and that has limited Liberia's economic
recovery. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of
incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous
financial support and technical assistance from donor countries.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.643 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$902.9 million
GDP - real growth rate:
9.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
85% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
509.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
473.8 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
3,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Belgium 41.4%, Spain 11.6%, US 9.1%, Malaysia 5.5%, Thailand 4.6%,
Poland 4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 37.9%, Japan 21.1%, Singapore 14.2%, Croatia 4.7% (2005)
Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$94 million (1999)
Currency (code):
Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code:
LRD
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379
(2003), 61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
160,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost
exclusively in the capital Monrovia
domestic: fully automatic system with very low density of .23 fixed
main lines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
70,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet hosts:
8 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
1,000 (2002)
Transportation Liberia
Airports: 53 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2006)
Railways:
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: railway is inoperable because of damage suffered during the
civil war (2005)
Roadways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,687 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,522,787 GRT/96,776,521 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 322, cargo 83, chemical
tanker 199, combination ore/oil 2, container 477, liquefied gas 75,
passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 397, refrigerated
cargo 76, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier
35
foreign-owned: 1,611 (Argentina 7, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas,
The 1, Bermuda 1, Brazil 3, Canada 2, China 35, Croatia 7, Cyprus 3,
Denmark 8, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 587, Greece 267, Hong Kong
37, India 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 5, Italy 16, Japan
102, South Korea 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 14, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Monaco
10, Netherlands 29, Norway 38, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 77, Saudi
Arabia 24, Singapore 28, Slovenia 2, Sweden 8, Switzerland 7, Taiwan
69, Turkey 1, UAE 18, UK 41, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 3, US 93, unknown
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Buchanan, Monrovia
Military Liberia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 575,384
females age 18-49: 588,780 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$67.4 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
7.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international:
although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups,
warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrest
persists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea,
72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 in
Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone; since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia; the
Cote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirian
rebels; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone) 12,408 (Cote
d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 464,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,
criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide
significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Libya
Introduction Libya
Background:
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks from the area around
Tripoli in 1911 and did not reliquish their hold until 1943 when
defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and
achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political
system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of
socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is
supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a
unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself
as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during
the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya,
supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of
Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged
in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain
access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian
politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992
isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight
103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appeared
to have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the
1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe.
UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in
September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December
2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its
programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has
made significant strides in normalizing relations with western
nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders
as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made
his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to
Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004
several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist
activities in the 1980s by compensating the families of victims of
the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.
Geography Libya
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four
days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the
Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under
the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People Libya
Population: 5,900,754 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,012,748/female 969,978)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 1,891,643/female 1,778,621)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 121,566/female 126,198) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 22.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
26.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.69 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 79.02 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations
during the transmission season (typically April through October)
(2005)
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,
Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major
cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
Government Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
local short form: none
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 54 N, 13 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held
NA)
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,
primarily based in London, but has little influence
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: (202) 944-9601
FAX: (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad Interim
Gregory L. BERRY
embassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: 21-335-1848
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about
one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial
revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give
Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of
this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan
officials in the past four years have made progress on economic
reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country
into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN
sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced that
it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction in
December 2003. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were
removed in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign direct
investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libya faces a long road
ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial
steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some
subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the
groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The
non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for
about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural
products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel,
and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$68 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$31.49 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.6% industry: 49.9% services: 42.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.64 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $25.34 billion
expenditures: $15.47 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.6
billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
8.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,
soybeans; cattle
Industries:
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
14.4 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
13.39 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
1.643 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
237,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.34 million bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
40 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
7 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.25 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.321 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$10.73 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$30.79 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
Exports - partners:
Italy 37.9%, Germany 15.2%, Spain 8.7%, Turkey 6.3%, France 6.2%,
US 5.2% (2005)
Imports:
$10.82 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumer
products
Imports - partners:
Italy 21.5%, Germany 10.4%, Tunisia 5.6%, Turkey 4.9%, UK 4.9%,
France 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, China 4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$39.7 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.267 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $4.4 million (2002)
Currency (code):
Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:
LYD
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929
(2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
750,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
234,800 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;
mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to
France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:
730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
31 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
205,000 (2005)
Transportation Libya
Airports: 141 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 882 km; gas 3,481 km; oil 6,916 km (2006)
Railways:
0 km
note: Libya is working on seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m
gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2005)
Roadways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 86,034 GRT/89,820 DWT
by type: cargo 10, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Turkey 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,
Zawiyah
Military Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (LAAF) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,505,675
females age 17-49: 1,429,152 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 62,034
females age 17-49: 59,533 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria
and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;
various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked
for forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willingly
migrate to Libya en route to Europe with the help of smugglers, but
may be forced into prostitution or work as laborers and beggars to
pay off their $800-$1,200 smuggling debt; laborers from Egypt,
Sudan, and Ethiopia are reportedly trafficked to Libya for the
purpose of labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its lack of evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the
end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic
devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter
into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War
II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low
taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in
banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use
of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein
has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and
recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:
33,987 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%
(June 2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 09 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12
July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,
assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August
2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince
to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April
2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April
2001)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is
usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the
leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually
appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL
13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or
FL
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 331-0590 FAX: (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The
Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of
small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -
and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called
letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,
providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a
customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its
national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy
requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European
Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.
The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with
those of an integrated Europe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.786 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.487 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6% NA%
industry: 39%
services: 55% NA% (1999)
Labor force:
29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and
Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 47% services: 51% (31 December 2001)
Unemployment rate:
1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts
for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK
4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)
Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland (2004)
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:
$0
Currency (code):
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467
(2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11,400 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:
12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
4,697 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2002)
Transportation Liechtenstein
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2006)
Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2006)
Roadways: total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2006)
Waterways:
28 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:
none
Military Liechtenstein
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of
Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic
confiscated in 1945 as German property
Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore
financial services sector
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of
the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not
recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the
abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.
Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into
Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.
Geography Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,613 km
border countries: Belarus 653.5 km, Latvia 588 km, Poland 103.7 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km
Coastline:
90 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land, amber
Land use: arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:
3,585,906 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 284,888/female 270,458)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,210,557/female 1,265,542)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 190,496/female 363,965) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 40.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
8.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
10.98 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.2 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 79.49 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified
3.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including
Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or
unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and
unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is
the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and
established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its
independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004
(next to be held June 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote
- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Gediminas
KIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with 5 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working
for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, TS
14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian
People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers and
New Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29,
Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split from
Labor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11,
National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union)
11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and Center
Political Group 8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:
Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS, chairman]; Electoral
Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman];
National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Homeland
Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor
Party; Liberal and Center Political Group [Arturas ZUOKAS,
chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS,
chairman]; Liberal Movement; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD
[Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair
Lithuania; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [Algirdas
BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor
Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP;
Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social
Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman];
Young Lithuania and New Nationalists
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kornelija
JURGAITIENE
chancery: 4590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 234-5860
FAX: (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: American Embassy, Almeny gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106 telephone: (5) 266 5500 FAX: (5) 266 5510
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with
Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to about 8% in 2005. Growing
domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered
recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.
Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned
utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion.
Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreign
government and business support have helped in the transition from
the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$49.41 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$23.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 32.5% services: 62% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.61 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.2% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
Less than $2.15 per day (PPP): 4%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 24.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.5 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.429 billion
expenditures: $9.103 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)
Public debt:
18.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
19 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 77.7% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
12.079 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
11.7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
4.144 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
14,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
52,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
93,000 bbl/day bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (2004)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - imports:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$-1.771 billion (2005)
Exports:
$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.2%, Germany 9.4%, France 7%, Estonia 5.9%,
Poland 5.5%, Sweden 5%, US 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 27.9%, Germany 15.2%, Poland 8.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.815 billion (2005)
Debt - external:
$11.7 billion (2 February 2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.6 billion in committed EU structural and cohesion funds (2004-06)
Currency (code):
litas (LTL)
Currency code:
LTL
Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003),
3.677 (2002), 4 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
801,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.353 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia
and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and
Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
148,675 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)
Internet users:
1,221,700 (2005)
Transportation Lithuania
Airports: 91 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 1,696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 1,771 km
broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 79,497 km
paved: 70,549 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)
Waterways:
425 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 49 ships (1000 GRT or over) 353,094 GRT/352,883 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 14, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 10)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize 1,
North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
3, unknown 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Klaipeda
Military Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces,
National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 830,368
females age 19-49: 830,524 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 590,606
females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 29,689
females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in
2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by
Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a
simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the
Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as
a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, to
strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe
and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.94% permanent crops: 0.39% other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:
474,413 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.7 years
female: 39.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.23% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.89 years
male: 75.6 years
female: 82.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,
Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and
resident workers)
Religions:
87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative
language), French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:
17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir
Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular
elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is
appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of
Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,
DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP
14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory
body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members
appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister
Judicial branch:
judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district
courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and
tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and
tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are
appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN];
Christian Social People's Party or CSV (also known as Christian
Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP
[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist
Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist
Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other
minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:
ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph WEYLAND chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: 46 01 23 FAX: 46 14 01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and
is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:
This stable, high-income economy - benefitting from its proximity
to France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, low
inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially
dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include
chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial
sector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more than
compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned
and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small
family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-border
workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,
like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,
the country enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP
per capita ranks first in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$30.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$31.76 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$65,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
316,500 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $9.195 billion
expenditures: $9.573 billion; including capital expenditures of
$975.5 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy
products, livestock products
Industries:
banking and financial services, iron and steel, information
technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food
processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,
aluminum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:
2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
55,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.205 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$3.56 billion
Exports:
$13.39 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass
Exports - partners:
Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain
6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$18.74 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands
5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$279.1 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $235.59 million (2004)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:
244,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
720,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6
coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1999)
Televisions:
285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:
.lu
Internet hosts:
88,661 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
315,000 (2005)
Transportation Luxembourg
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 5,210 km
paved: 5,210 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2002)
Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefied
gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10,
Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Mertert
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:
Army
Military service age and obligation: a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 110,867
females age 17-49: 108,758 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 90,279
females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 2,775
females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$231.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 28.2 sq km
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:
41 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring
5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and
Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by
three bridges
People Macau
Population:
453,125 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412)
15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.1 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 36.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.19 years
male: 79.36 years
female: 85.17 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%,
other 3.3% (2001 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinese
dialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:
conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status:
special administrative region of China
Government type:
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents
living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited
to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently
registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government
bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,
three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and
one pro-Beijing educator
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes;
three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 elected by popular
vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive;
members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau
Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New
Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others NA; seats by political
group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau
United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2,
New Hope 1, United Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by
professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief
executive
Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:
Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development
Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG
On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New
Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water
in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large
in center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the
world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and
tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit
hard by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn
in 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in
2004. During the first three quarters of 2005, Macau registered
year-on-year GDP increases of 6.2%. A rapid rise in the number of
mainland visitors because of China's easing of travel restrictions,
increased public works expenditures, and significant investment
inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming
industry drove the four-year recovery. The budget also returned to
surplus since 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a
hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of
government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses
have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will
boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the
mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory
may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to
generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling
licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities
in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games led
the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1
January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to
the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was expanded
on 1 January 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10 billion (2004)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.05 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (3rd Quarter 2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,000 (2004)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 7.2% services: 92.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 251,200 (3rd Quarter, 2005)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 13.7%, construction 10.5%, transport and communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 14.6%, restaurants and hotels 10.3%, gambling 17.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.1% (3rd Quarter 2005)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2nd quarter, 2005)
Budget:
revenues: $3.16 billion
expenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)
Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is
exported to Hong Kong
Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.893 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.899 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
153.3 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$3.465 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2004)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)
Imports:
$3.478 billion c.i.f. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils
Imports - partners:
China 43.1%, Japan 10.9%, Hong Kong 10%, Singapore 5.2%, US 4.1%,
Taiwan 4% (2005)
Debt - external:
$3.1 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
pataca (MOP)
Currency code:
MOP
Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003),
8.033 (2002), 8.034 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macau
Telephones - main lines in use:
174,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
532,800 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication
facility; access to international communications carriers provided
via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Televisions:
49,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mo
Internet hosts:
108 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
201,000 (2004)
Transportation Macau
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 368 km
paved: 368 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Macau
Military Macau
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsiblity of China
Transnational Issues Macau
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Macau is a transit and destination territory for
women trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;
most females in Macau's sizeable sex industry come from the interior
regions of China or Mongolia, though a significant number also come
from Russia, Eastern Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam; the majority of
women in Macau's prostitution trade appear to have entered Macau and
the sex trade voluntarily, though there is evidence that some are
deceived or coerced into sexual servitude, often through the use of
debt bondage; organized criminal syndicates are reportedly involved
in bringing women to Macau, and fear of reprisals from these groups
may prevent some women from seeking help
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Macau is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Macedonia
Introduction Macedonia
Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in
1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of the
"Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a
20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. The
undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the
Framework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed
insurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges for
Macedonia.
Geography Macedonia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km,
Serbia 221 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy
snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by
the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese,
nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central
Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People Macedonia
Population:
2,050,554 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)
65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 35.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
male: 71.51 years
female: 76.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.57 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb
1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Religions:
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, other Christian 0.37%, Muslim 33.3%,
other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages:
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian
1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Government Macedonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 41 59 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),
Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar,
Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje),
Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,
Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda
(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski
Brod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro
Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari
(Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles,
Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino,
Zrnovci
note: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's
Day and Ilinden
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to
the judiciary
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 28 August
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSH/DPA, and several
small parties
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April
and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister
elected by the Assembly following legislative elections
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on
second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,
Sasko KEDEV 37.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by
popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall
vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 July 2006 (next to be held by July 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 32.5%, SDSM
23.3%, DUI 12.2%, PDSH/DPA 7.5%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 44,
SDSM 32, DUI 28, PDSH/DPA 11, other 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional
Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial
Council - the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA
[Vasil TUPURKOVSKI]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks [Rafet
MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben
XHAFERI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia
[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Republican Union of Macedonia or DRUM
[Goran RAFAJLOVSKI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko
KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or DUI [Ali AHMETI];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or
VMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA, acting]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi
MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal
Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National
Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers' Party
[Vejljo TANTAROV]; New Democratic Forces [Hysni SHAQIRI]; New Social
Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic
Future [Alajdin DEMIRI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP
[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or
SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV-ZINGO]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; World Macedonian
Congress [Todor PETROV]
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljupco JORDANOVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 667-0501 FAX: (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: 2 311-6180 FAX: 2 311-7103
Flag description:
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field
Economy Macedonia
Economy - overview:
At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least
developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the
total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of
Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and
eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area.
An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized
Yugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo
over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag
hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year
through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic
reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the
ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because
of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit
spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely
recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then rose by 3.4% in 2003, 4.1% in 2004,
and 3.7% in 2005. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability
with low inflation, but it has lagged the region in attracting
foreign investment and job growth has been anemic. Macedonia has an
extensive grey market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP,
that falls outside official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $15.94 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.304 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.8% industry: 31.9% services: 56.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 855,000 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
37.3% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29.6% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.105 billion
expenditures: $2.15 billion; including capital expenditures of $114
million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
33.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, steel, cement,
energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
6.8% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.271 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
7.933 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
1.662 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-81.1 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.047 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Germany 17.8%, Greece 15.3%, Italy 8.3% (2005)
Imports:
$3.196 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food
products
Imports - partners:
Russia 13.2%, Germany 10.4%, Greece 9.2%, Bulgaria 7.3%, Italy 6%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.341 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.19 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$250 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
MKD
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004),
54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.037 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
533,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.261 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 389
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
3,716 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
392,671 (2005)
Transportation Macedonia
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2006)
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km unpaved: 3,144 km (1999)
Military Macedonia
Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,
with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV),
Special Force Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript
duty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 498,259
females age 18-49: 481,317 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 411,156
females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 16,686
females age 18-49: 15,664 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6% (FY01/02 est.)
Transnational Issues Macedonia
Disputes - international:
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary
with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and
Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the
use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although not a financial center and most criminal activity is
thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a
mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or
prosecutions for money laundering to date)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People Madagascar
Population:
18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)
65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.34 years
male: 54.93 years
female: 59.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Government Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 16 December 2001
(next to be held December 2006); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%,
Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats;
two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members
will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the
seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to
be held December 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD
5, others 3, independents 22
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National
Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or
FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee
for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council
of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM,
OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy Madagascar
Economy - overview:
Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has
since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of
privatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the country
on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level.
Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the
economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing
80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent
years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States.
Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the
primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA
has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002
political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year.
Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces
of economic policy for the next few years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.05 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.719 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27.6% industry: 16.5% services: 55.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $703.6 million
expenditures: $853 million; including capital expenditures of $331
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
825.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
767.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
89.27 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-438 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$951 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite,
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
France 30.9%, US 30.3%, Germany 8.6% (2005)
Imports:
$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
France 16.6%, China 10.6%, Iran 7.9%, Mauritius 6.5%, South Africa
5.9%, Hong Kong 5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$572 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$354 million (2001)
Currency (code):
Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Currency code:
MGF
Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004),
1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
66,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
504,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:
3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
325,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet hosts:
1,504 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
90,000 (2005)
Transportation Madagascar
Airports: 116 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2006)
Railways: total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)
Waterways:
600 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,542,797
females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$329 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
7.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan
de Nova Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Malawi
Introduction Malawi
Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution
which came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,
who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA's
anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests and
one prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of
HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
Geography Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of
uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature
People Malawi
Population:
13,013,926
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.2 years
female: 16.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 94.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.7 years
male: 41.93 years
female: 41.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
14.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
84,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%,
Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other
3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Government Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay,
Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next
to be held May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,
Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,
Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress for
National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu
wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi
Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and
Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP,
PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE
[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown
MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People's
Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation
Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE
chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: (202) 721-0270
FAX: (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David
GILMOUR
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: (1) 773 166
FAX: (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
Economy Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for
nearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. The
performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for over 60% of exports. The economy depends on
substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World
Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was
approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
program. The government faces strong challenges, including
developing a market economy, improving educational facilities,
facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly
growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that
fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA
championed an anticorruption campaign. Malawi's recent fiscal policy
performance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and
2006 will heighten pressure on the government to increase spending.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$7.364 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.984 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.2% industry: 15.8% services: 49.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
55% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.3 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
10.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $844.6 million
expenditures: $913.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
195.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
7.9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.296 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.206 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-218 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$364 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel
Exports - partners:
US 18%, South Africa 12.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands
6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, UK 4.2%, Mozambique 4% (2005)
Imports:
$645 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 37.9%, Zambia 8.7%, Mozambique 7.8%, Zimbabwe 7.3%,
India 6.4%, Tanzania 4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$151 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.287 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$401.5 million (2001)
Currency (code):
Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code:
MWK
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004),
97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002), 72.197 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
102,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
429,300 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third
station held in standby status) (2001)
Radios:
2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet hosts:
377 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
52,500 (2005)
Transportation Malawi
Airports: 42 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999)
Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military Malawi
Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,430,514 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$15.81 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malawi
Disputes - international: disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Malaysia
Introduction Malaysia
Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established
colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these
were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled
territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya,
which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when
the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian
states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined
the Federation. The first several years of the country's history
were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine
claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in
1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad
(1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy
from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in
manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern
one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and
the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
(October to February) monsoons
Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use: arable land: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
flooding, landslides, forest fires
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China
Sea
People Malaysia
Population:
24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.5 years
male: 69.8 years
female: 75.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
52,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others
7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in
addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Languages:
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin,
Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,
Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most
widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2002)
Government Malaysia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaysia
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament
consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;
all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka
and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and
Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;
powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;
under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain
constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own
immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of
Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives
Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah,
Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau
Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal
territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala
Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Islamic law is applied to
Muslims in matters of family law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since
13 December 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul
Razak (since 7 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 3
November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin elected paramount ruler
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan
Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed
by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan
Rakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next
must be held by 2009)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199,
DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the
advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN,
consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party
or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal
Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese
Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy
VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti
Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti
Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti
Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's
Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam];
United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad
Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization
(Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard
DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk
Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party
or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action
Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic
Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI
Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN
AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG];
opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA -
consists of PAS and PKR
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 572-9700
FAX: (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: (3) 2168-5000
FAX: (3) 2142-2207
Flag description:
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white
(bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent
and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based
on the flag of the US
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971
through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an
emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven
by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was
hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the
information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001
grew only 0.5% because of an estimated 11% contraction in exports,
but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion
mitigated the worst of the recession, and the economy rebounded in
2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003,
notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to
caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5%
in 2005. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from
higher world energy prices, although the cost of government
subsidies for domestic gasoline and diesel fuel has risen and offset
some of the benefit. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US
dollar in 2005, but so far there has been little movement in the
exchange rate. Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation, and
a small external debt are all strengths that make it unlikely that
Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term
similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on
continued growth in the US, China, and Japan - top export
destinations and key sources of foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$287 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$122 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.4% industry: 48% services: 43.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 10.67 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5% industry: 36% services: 49.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30.57 billion
expenditures: $34.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
46.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah -
subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber,
pepper, timber
Industries:
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and
manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining
and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum
production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production
and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
79.28 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.5% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
73.63 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
100 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
510,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
230,200 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
3.1 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
53.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
28.53 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
22.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.124 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$14.06 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$147.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%,
Thailand 5.4% (2005)
Imports:
$118.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,
iron and steel products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%,
Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.23 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$52 billion (2005 est.)
Currency (code):
ringgit (MYR)
Currency code:
MYR
Exchange rates:
ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003), 3.8
(2002), 3.8 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Malaysia
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.366 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.545 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong
Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Radios:
10.9 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations: mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are low power stations (2006)
Televisions:
10.8 million (1999)
Internet country code:
.my
Internet hosts:
158,650 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)
Internet users:
11.016 million (2005)
Transportation Malaysia
Airports: 117 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 72 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 282 km; gas 5,372 km; oil 1,715 km; oil/gas/water 19 km;
refined products 114 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 1,890 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 71,814 km
paved: 55,943 km
unpaved: 15,871 km (2001)
Waterways:
7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km
(2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container
48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8,
petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, South
Korea 1, Singapore 44)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman
Islands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4)
(2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town
(Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas
Military Malaysia
Military branches:
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian
Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut
Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara
Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,584,231
females age 18-49: 5,510,345 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,574,854
females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 244,418
females age 18-49: 231,896 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.03% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Malaysia
Disputes - international:
Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together
with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while
the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the
legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia
was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil
companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting
marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue
over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land
reclamation, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and Pedra
Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih - but parties agree to ICJ
arbitration on island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded
Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and
Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary in the
hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in hostile
confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil
block; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim
southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with
Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a now
dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; in 2003,
Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed
offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated
prompting consideration of international adjudication; Malaysia's
land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; piracy
remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 15,181 (Indonesia) 9,601 (Burma)
(2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser
extent, a source and transit country for men and women trafficked
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; foreign
victims, mostly women and girls from China, Indonesia, Thailand, the
Philippines, and Vietnam, are trafficked to Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation; economic migrants from countries in the region
who work as domestic servants or laborers in the construction and
agricultural sectors face exploitative conditions in Malaysia that
meet the definition of involuntary servitude; some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia is placed on Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking, particularly its failure to provide protection
for victims of trafficking
Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking
prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Maldives
Introduction Maldives
Background:
The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under
British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after
independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently
in his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' political
scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the
president and his government have pledged to embark upon democratic
reforms, including a more representative political system and
expanded political freedoms. Tourism and fishing are being developed
on the archipelago.
Geography Maldives
Location:
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India
Geographic coordinates:
3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March);
rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:
flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands,
plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic
location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
People Maldives
Population:
359,008 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
34.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.41 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 65.8 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic),
English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
Government Maldives
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa
Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), Meemu,
Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
adopted 1 January 1998
Legal system:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination
must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval
margin is required); president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in
referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by
popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties were allowed to register in June 2005; the first entrants are: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:
AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed LATHEEF chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 599-6195 FAX: (212) 661-6405
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to
Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical
white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side
of the flag
Economy Maldives
Economy - overview:
Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and
more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90%
of government tax revenue comes from import duties and
tourism-related taxes. Fishing is a second leading sector. The
Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989
initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the
private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to
allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing
continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the
limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic
labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists
mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts,
accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the
impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying
country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level. In
late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000
displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million. Over the past
decade, real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year. As a result of
the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 5.5% in 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$817 million
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 18% services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 88,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NEGL% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $265 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $362 million; including capital expenditures of $80
million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut
processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand
mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.9% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
135 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
125.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$123 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, clothing
Exports - partners:
Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%, Singapore
5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$567 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing,
intermediate and capital goods
Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.1%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.3%, Malaysia 7.2%, Sri Lanka
5.7%, UK 4.5% (2005)
Debt - external:
$304 million (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$27.9 million $NA (2004)
Currency (code):
rufiyaa (MVR)
Currency code:
MVR
Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8
(2002), 12.24 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Maldives
Telephones - main lines in use:
32,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
153,400 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3
Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
35,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Televisions:
10,000 (1999)
Internet country code:
.mv
Internet hosts:
1,357 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
19,000 (2005)
Transportation Maldives
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 88 km
paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on
Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,149 GRT/87,220 DWT
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Male
Military Maldives
Military branches:
National Security Service: Security Branch (ground forces), Air
Element, Coast Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 71,774
females age 18-49: 69,229 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 56,687
females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$45.07 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Maldives
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 11,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mali
Introduction Mali
Background:
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few
months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a coup
that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE won
Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was
reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional
limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.
Geography Mali
Location:
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid,
and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in
south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum,
granite, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use: arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,360 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring
droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies
of potable water; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
People Mali
Population:
11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48.2% (male 2,857,670/female 2,787,506)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 2,804,344/female 2,910,097)
65 years and over: 3% (male 146,458/female 210,754) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.63% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
49.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
16.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 107.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 117.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 97.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49 years
male: 47.05 years
female: 51.01 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups:
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%,
Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages:
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
Government Mali
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bamako
geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,
Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally
established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi MAIGA (since 30
April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 May 2002 (next
to be held April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of
vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 and 28 July 2002 (next to be held July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, party
chairman]; Hope 2002 (a coalition of CNID, MPR, RDT, and RPM);
National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL,
chairman]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa
TRAORE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME,
secretary general]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel
MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT; Rally for Mali or RPM
[Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, chairman]; Sudanese Union/African
Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE, secretary general];
Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY];
Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and
Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF,
ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Terrence P. MCCULLEY embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: 222-5470 FAX: 222-3712
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Mali
Economy - overview:
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its
land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal
distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is
nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm
commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable
to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along
with gold. The government has continued its successful
implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program
that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign
investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50%
devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic
growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2005. Worker remittances and
external trade routes for the landlocked country have been
jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.61 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.434 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 3.93 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
64% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
820 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.7% hydro: 58.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 762.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,250 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$323 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock
Exports - partners:
China 25.2%, Pakistan 12.8%, Thailand 8.7%, Taiwan 6.7%, Italy 4.5%
(2005)
Imports:
$1.858 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 13.1%, Senegal 13.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.5% (2005)
Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$472.1 million (2002)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mali
Telephones - main lines in use:
75,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
869,600 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving;
provides only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1 note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International (2001)
Radios:
570,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
45,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ml
Internet hosts:
278 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2001)
Internet users:
60,000 (2005)
Transportation Mali
Airports:
29 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Railways: total: 729 km narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1999)
Waterways:
1,815 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Koulikoro
Military Mali
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,094,432
females age 18-49: 2,027,352 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,244,176
females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$106.3 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mali
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 6,185 (Mauritania) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Malta
Introduction Malta
Background:
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The
island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a
financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU
member in May 2004.
Geography Malta
Location:
Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily
(Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use: arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest
islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being
inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Malta
Population:
400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups:
Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with
strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Government Malta
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local councils carry out administrative orders
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution:
1964 constitution; amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Edward FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 29
March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a
five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister
election results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; House of
Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note -
additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular
vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD
0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry
VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party
or PN [Lawrence GONZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: 2561 4000
FAX: 21 243229
Flag description:
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the
upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,
edged in red
Economy Malta
Economy - overview:
Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and
a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food
needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has few domestic energy
sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing
(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continued
sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports,
tourism, and overall growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$7.861 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.193 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 160,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 22% services: 75% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut
flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Industries:
tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food
and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2.082 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.936 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NEGL (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-598 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures
Exports - partners:
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%,
Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
$3.859 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco
Imports - partners:
Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore
4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.579 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$188.8 million (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Maltese lira (MTL)
Currency code:
MTL
Exchange rates:
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004),
0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002), 0.45004 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Malta
Telephones - main lines in use:
202,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
324,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:
255,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
280,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mt
Internet hosts:
14,025 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2002)
Internet users:
127,200 (2005)
Transportation Malta
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/38,685,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker 105,
combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas 7, livestock
carrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 146,
refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 16
foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 3, Belgium
10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China 14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark
6, Estonia 4, France 6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland
4, India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South Korea 6,
Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 6, Norway 49, Pakistan
1, Poland 27, Portugal 3, Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6,
Sweden 3, Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5, UK
8, Ukraine 24, US 3)
registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1, Russia 4)
(2006)
Ports and terminals:
Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Military Malta
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements)
(2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 90,651
females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 74,525
females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$38.168 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Malta
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western
Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
Background:
After almost four decades under US administration as the
easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact
of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US
nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The
Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan
Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense
network.
Geography Marshall Islands
Location:
Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up
of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 11,854.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters)
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative:
about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
370.4 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border
typhoon belt
Terrain:
low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources:
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein,
the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test
range; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the
Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most
densely populated locations in the Pacific
People Marshall Islands
Population:
60,422 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.3 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.25% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.31 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 72.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups:
Micronesian
Religions:
Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot
nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none
1.5% (1999 census)
Languages:
Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshallese
and English are official languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
abbreviation: RMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands
District
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and
the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:
name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur,
Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo,
Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili,
Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik,
Wotho, Wotje
Independence:
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution:
1 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
the legislature
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003
(next to be held November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100%
Legislative branch:
unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised
of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and
practice
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
Political parties and leaders:
traditionally there have been no formally organized political
parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or
interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal
platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have
competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad
Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMEING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-5414 FAX: (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: 247-4011
FAX: 247-4012
Flag description:
blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner -
orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays
and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy Marshall Islands
Economy - overview:
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island
economy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is
concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are
coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US
will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands
(RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI
contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government
downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism
and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and
less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held
GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$115 million (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$144 million
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services: 53.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 14,680 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7%
Unemployment rate:
30.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Industries:
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood,
and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Exports:
$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)
Imports:
$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2004)
Debt - external:
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,510 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,198 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services
include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID,
and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
and mini-satellite telephones
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications
system on Kwajalein (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2005)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
2 (both are US military stations)
note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates on
Majuro (2005)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.mh
Internet hosts:
6 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
2,000 (2005)
Transportation Marshall Islands
Airports:
15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 64.5 km
paved: 64.5 km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/50,987,293 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53, chemical
tanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25, passenger 7, petroleum
tanker 234, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6,
Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Finland 2, Germany 194,
Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, South
Korea 1, Latvia 7, Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1,
Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland 13,
Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143)
registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Majuro
Military Marshall Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 13,465 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Martinique
Introduction Martinique
Background:
The French began to settle this island in 1635, overcoming
resistance from the local Carib inhabitants. In 1660, the suviving
natives were rounded up and permanently expelled. The island has
subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief
periods of foreign occupation.
Geography Martinique
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,100 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
water: 40 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October);
vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on
average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain:
mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use: arable land: 9.09% permanent crops: 10% other: 80.91% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one
major natural disaster every five years)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted
and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000
inhabitants
People Martinique
Population:
436,131 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.1% (male 48,988/female 47,525)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 147,082/female 146,470)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 20,791/female 25,275) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 34.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.72% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
13.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.18 years
male: 79.5 years
female: 78.85 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups:
African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian
and Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%,
other 3.5% (1997)
Languages:
French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Government Martinique
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique
Dependency status:
overseas department of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Fort-de-France
geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 61 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - took
office 8 February 2004
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils for
six-year terms
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a
unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held March 2000 (next to be held
in 2006); Regional Council - last held on 28 March 2004 (next to be
held by March 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wing
candidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPM
won a plurality; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote
by party - MIM 53.8%, PPM 30.6%; seats by party - MIM 28, PPM 9,
other 4
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held September 2004 (next to be held September 2008); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 1, left-wing
candidate 1; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National
Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second
round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1,
PMS 1, MIM 1, left-wing candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing
candidate was found invalid by the Constitutional Council; new
elections will be called)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Georges ERICHOT]; Martinique
Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique
Progressive Party or PPM [Pierre SUEDILE]; Martinique Socialist
Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and
Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA];
Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist
Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French
Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;
League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
International organization participation:
UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
unofficial flag, derives from the civil ensign flown by French
merchant ships and dates to 1766; a blue field quartered by a white
cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white, coiled snake
representing the venomous Fer-de-lance; the flag of France is used
for official occasions
Economy Martinique
Economy - overview:
The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light
industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small
industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most
of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports
are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable,
and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic
trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from
France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become
more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign
exchange.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.117 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 165,900 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 17% services: 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate:
27.2% (1998)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA
Budget:
revenues: $317.5 million
expenditures: $317.5 million; including capital expenditures of $140
million (1996)
Agriculture - products:
pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane
Industries:
construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.205 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.12 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,800 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$404.2 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
Exports - partners:
France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2004)
Imports:
$2.307 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials,
vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2004)
Debt - external:
$180 million (1994)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA; note - substantial annual aid from France (1998)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use:
172,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
319,900 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 596; microwave radio relay to
Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mq
Internet hosts:
72 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
107,000 (2005)
Transportation Martinique
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 2,105 km (including 261 km of expressways) (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Fort-de-France, La Trinite, Marin
Military Martinique
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Gendarmerie
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 110,536 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 90,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 3,105 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Martinique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mauritania
Introduction Mauritania
Background:
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern
third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but
relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario
guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould
Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties
were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two
multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as
flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were
generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed
President TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely
Ould Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up to
two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic
institutions and organized elections. For now, however, Mauritania
remains an autocratic state, and the country continues to experience
ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor
(Arab-Berber) communities.
Geography Mauritania
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
754 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use: arable land: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (2002)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and
April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought
are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh
water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial
river; locust infestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and
Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the
country
People Mauritania
Population:
3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
40.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 69.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.12 years
male: 50.88 years
female: 55.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risks
in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups:
mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*;
Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh
Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris
Zemmour, Trarza
Independence:
28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution:
12 July 1991
Legal system:
a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, whose Military Council
for Justice and Democracy deposed longtime President Maaouya Ould
Sid Ahmed TAYA in a coup on 3 August 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since
8 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second consecutive term); note - passage of a
constitutional reform referendum in July 2006 limits president to
two five-year terms; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be
held 11 March 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected
for a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh
(56 seats; a portion of seats up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (95 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held
21 January 2007); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3
December 2006
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts
Political parties and leaders:
Action for Change or AC (no longer active) [Messoud Ould
BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Cisse Amadou
CHEIKHOU]; National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD
[Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality, and Justice or PLEJ
[Ba Mamdou ALASSANE]; Party of Democratic Convergence or PCD [Cheikh
Ould HORMA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE];
Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR];
Progress Force Union or UFP (no longer active) [Mohamed Ould
MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];
Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA];
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR (formerly ruling
Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS) [Boullah Ould
MOGUEYA]; Right Way or SAWAB [Cheikh Ould Sidi Ould HANANA]; Union
for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]; Union of
Forces of Progress or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]
note: the Party of Democratic Convergence was banned in October 2005
because it was regarded as Islamist and therefore in breach of
Mauritanian law
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of Mauritanian
Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general];
Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory
Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely
Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould Mohamed EL KERIM
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX: (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven
KOUTSIS
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish
Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: 525-1592
Flag description:
green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal
crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Mauritania
Economy - overview:
Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for
a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers
were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and
1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account
for nearly 40% of total exports. The decline in world demand for
this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's
coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but
overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue.
The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986.
In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a
buildup of foreign debt which now stands at more than three times
the level of annual exports. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified
for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor
and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. A
new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the
opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations
with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal
discipline. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore
indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices.
Mauritania has an estimated 1 billion barrels of proved reserves.
Substantial oil production and exports are scheduled to begin in
early 2006 and may average 75,000 barrels per day for that year.
Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement
of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.901 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.346 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services: 46% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry: 10% services: 40% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million; including capital expenditures of $154
million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep
Industries:
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
185.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.9% hydro: 14.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
172.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1 billion bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (2005)
Exports:
$784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners:
Italy 14.9%, Japan 12.3%, France 11.8%, Belgium 8.5%, Germany 8.3%,
Cote d'Ivoire 7.2%, Spain 6.5%, Russia 5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 18.5%, UK 7.2%, US 7%, China 6%, Spain 5%, Belgium 4.3%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$2.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$305.7 million (2002)
Currency (code):
ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code:
MRO
Exchange rates:
ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2005), NA (2004), 263.03 (2003),
271.74 (2002), 255.63 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use:
41,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
745,600 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines,
minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
98,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mr
Internet hosts:
32 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
14,000 (2005)
Transportation Mauritania
Airports:
25 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Railways: 717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1999)
Ports and terminals:
Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Military Mauritania
Military branches:
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Mauritanienne;
includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique de
Mauritanie, FAIM) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - two years;
majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air
Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 606,463
females age 18-49: 607,955 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 370,513
females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.32 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mauritania
Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent
years
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country
for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor, begging,
and domestic servitude; adults and children are subjected to
slavery-related practices rooted in ancestral master-slave
relationships in isolated parts of the country where a barter
economy exists
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mauritania is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increased efforts to
combat trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mauritius
Introduction Mauritius
Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th
century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; it
was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before
independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular
free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has
attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of
Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and
declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some
protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Geography Mauritius
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative:
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
177 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May
to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling
central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 49.02% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 48.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs
that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of
volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs
People Mauritius
Population:
1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 149,486/female 147,621)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 430,288/female 431,753)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 31,939/female 49,740) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 30 years
female: 31.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.82% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.63 years
male: 68.66 years
female: 76.66 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups:
Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian
2%
Religions:
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim
16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official;
spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified
0.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 88.6%
female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mauritius
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 10 S, 57 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River,
Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses,
Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common
law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October
2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February
2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election
last held 25 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister
and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to
the National Assembly
election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN
elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly -
NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 elected by popular vote,
8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to
various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS
38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance Sociale or AS; Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian
Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] (in coalition with MSM);
Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];
Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] (the governing
party); Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY];
Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: 202-4400 FAX: 208-9534
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
Economy Mauritius
Economy - overview:
Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income
diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist
sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order
of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more
equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered
infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is
grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25%
of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on
expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic
information telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attracted
more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India
and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has
reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector,
has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.73 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.681 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.9% industry: 29.8% services: 64.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 570,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry 36%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, finance 3%, other services 24% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
9.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.377 billion
expenditures: $1.77 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
67.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing,
chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical
machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.941 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.805 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-342 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$1.949 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses
Exports - partners:
UK 32.3%, France 20.7%, US 11.7%, Madagascar 6.2%, Italy 5.3% (2005)
Imports:
$2.507 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 12.1%, South Africa 11%, India 7.2%, Finland 6.1%, China 6%,
Germany 5.3%, Bahrain 5.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.366 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.246 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$42 million (1997)
Currency (code):
Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code:
MUR
Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 29.496 (2005), 27.499 (2004),
27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002), 29.129 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use:
359,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
713,300 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk system
international: country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF
radiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarine
cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
258,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mu
Internet hosts:
4,997 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
180,000 (2005)
Transportation Mauritius
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 2,020 km
paved: 2,020 km (including 75 km of expressways) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,386 GRT/23,214 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 4 (India 2, Switzerland 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Port Louis
Military Mauritius
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile
Force, National Coast Guard
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$12.04 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mauritius
Disputes - international:
Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British
Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside
chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship but no right to
patriation in the UK; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs:
minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia;
small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant
offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering,
but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears
generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mayotte
Introduction Mayotte
Background:
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the
Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago
that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego
independence.
Geography Mayotte
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half
of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 374 sq km
land: 374 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
185.2 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern
monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:
generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones during rainy season
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
People Mayotte
Population:
201,234 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 46,512/female 46,067)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 56,899/female 48,274)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,756/female 1,726) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 16 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.77% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
40.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 66.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.76 years
male: 59.57 years
female: 64.02 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups:
NA
Religions:
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages:
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by
35% of the population
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Mayotte
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Dependency status:
departmental collectivity of France
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 47 S, 45 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Paul KIHL (since 17 January 2005)
head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI
(since 8 April 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term;
next election to be held in 2010
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 and 28 March 2004 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDM 23.3%, UMP 22.8%,
PS 10.2%, MRC 8.9%, FRAP 6.5%, MPM 1.2%; seats by party - MDM 6, UMP
9, MRC 2, MPM 1, diverse left 1
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 2001 (next to be held September 2007); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also
elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007); results - percent of
vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF 44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR
1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement
or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour
KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or
FRAP; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar
SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA];
Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste)
[Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri
JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on
a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red
capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on
either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA
HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national
flag of France
Economy Mayotte
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector,
including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food
requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development
of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance,
an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an
obstacle to the development of tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$466.8 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force:
44,560 (2002)
Unemployment rate:
32.8% (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Industries:
newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
87.79 million kWh NA kWh
Exports:
$4.85 million f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities:
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee,
cinnamon
Exports - partners:
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2004)
Imports:
$256.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2004)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$208 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (2004)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mayotte
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
48,100 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: country code - 269; microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communications to Comoros
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2001)
Televisions:
3,500 (1994)
Internet country code:
.yt
Internet hosts:
1 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Mayotte
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Ports and terminals:
Dzaoudzi
Military Mayotte
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French
forces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues Mayotte
Disputes - international: claimed by Comoros
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mexico
Introduction Mexico
Background:
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under
Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early
in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw
Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over
half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery.
Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages,
underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable
income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the
largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910
Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000
as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.
Geography Mexico
Location:
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico,
between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,353 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km
Coastline: 9,330 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
varies from tropical to desert
Terrain:
high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 12.66% permanent crops: 1.28% other: 86.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
63,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
Environment - current issues:
scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban
migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in
north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in
the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land
subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one of
the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated in
Mexico
People Mexico
Population:
107,449,525 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 16,770,957/female 16,086,172)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 33,071,809/female 35,316,281)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 2,814,707/female 3,389,599) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 26.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.16% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
20.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.41 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 78.33 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
160,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly
Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%
Languages:
Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 94%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government Mexico
Country name:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Mexico (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates: 19 24 N, 99 09 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Mexico is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions:
31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*
(distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California
Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima,
Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca,
Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave,
Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence:
16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution:
5 February 1917